Houston, TX (SportsNetwork.com) - Sporting Kansas City wasted an opportunity
to clinch a playoff berth on Wednesday as the club was forced to settle
for a scoreless draw with the Houston Dynamo at BBVA Compass Stadium.

Sporting entered the match in second place in the Eastern Conference on 51 points and needed a win to assure themselves a place in the postseason party.

But it was the home-standing Dynamo that came out on the front foot creating
several chances and forcing Sporting goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen to make a pair of
spectacular saves in the first 10 minutes.

Houston had the last great chance of the opening 45 minutes when Brad Davis
lined up a free kick on the edge of the area, but rang it off the near post and
the sides went into the break level.

Sporting went for a winner in the second half, replacing the misfiring Dominic
Dwyer with Teal Bunbury late on, but neither side could find a goal and were
forced to share the spoils.

Sporting improves to 52 points, and can clinch a playoff spot on Saturday if
New England fail to defeat the Montreal Impact or Philadelphia falls to D.C.
United.